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Hinduism
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The major schools and sects of Hinduism, distinguished by the deity taken as supreme, by philosophy, and by the path emphasised: devotion, knowledge, action or disciplined practice. Hinduism has no single founder, creed or governing body, so its divisions are traditions of practice and lineage rather than denominations in the Western sense.
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Overview
What Defines This GroupingThe sampradayas and philosophical schools of Hinduism, distinguished by which form of the divine is taken as supreme and by the path emphasised - devotion, knowledge, action or disciplined practice. Hinduism has no founder, no creed and no governing body. 2 Origins
Origin of the NameSampradaya means what is handed down: the Indian term names a lineage of transmission from teacher to disciple, which denomination translates only loosely. 3 Learn More
The traditions within Hinduism
This group holds the major sects and philosophical traditions within Hinduism, which is less a single church than a family of related traditions sharing common texts, deities and practices. Its principal streams are defined chiefly by which form of the divine they place at the centre.
The browser will find Vaishnavism (devotion to Vishnu and his avatars), Shaivism (devotion to Shiva), Shaktism (devotion to the Goddess), and Smartism, along with the philosophical schools such as Advaita Vedanta. The entries describe each tradition's chosen deity, texts and characteristic practice.
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